Canadians in Action What you can do |
The BC Hydro Salmon Stream Project in Stanley ParkThe BC Hydro Salmon Stream Project in Stanley Park is a display stream running from the Vancouver Aquarium to Coal Harbour (near the Vancouver Rowing Club). As a demonstration stream and not a restoration, it is a representation of the extensive habitat restoration work that is being carried out around Vancouver and throughout the province of British Columbia. This project, coordinated by the Vancouver Aquarium, is used as a tool to teach millions of visitors walking through Stanley Park about the importance of salmon habitat and how we can all become involved in protecting our natural resources and our environment. In the Beginning: the Salmon Release
The Vancouver Aquarium first released salmon smolts in 1998. Prior to release, the smolts were kept at the Aquarium and imprinted with morpholine, an organic molecule that salmon can smell at very low concentrations. The salmon use this scent to find their way back to the mouth of the stream in Coal Harbour. The stream will have runs of coho, chum and pink salmon. Chum and pink salmon eggs were initially obtained from the Indian River with the help of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The coho salmon that have already been released were from the Capilano River hatchery and from returning spawners. The Stream Itself Physically, the stream is made up of two sections: a re-circulated freshwater portion that runs from the Children's Zoo in Stanley Park to a log jam just above the Alcan Salmon Pool Display, and a saltwater portion that consists of the Alcan Salmon Pool Display and a series of stream pools that run to Coal Harbour. A beach pump is used to pump salt water from the inlet at First Narrows creating the flow of the lower stream. Salmon make their way up the stream from Coal Harbour by way of a fish ladder and a fish-friendly culvert.
Visit the BC
Hydro Salmon Stream Project in Stanley Park to learn more. |
